It was my first time flying with American Airlines (AA), and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect on this 4-hour flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles.
The aircraft had originated in Dallas, and from the moment I stepped on board, I could feel the warm southern hospitality.
The crew on this flight were exceptional—polite, friendly, and even went above and beyond for several passengers.
During the check-in process, I decided to book and pay for an exit row seat, which, at $40, was well worth it for the extra legroom.
PRE ORDER
(Note that since this was published AA discontinued pre order meals)
AA does not offer free meals on most domestic flights, but you can pre-order a meal of your choice via their website or app from 30 days up to 24 hours before departure. The meal options I could pre-order included:
- Snacks available from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. on flights over 700 miles (roughly 2+ hour flights).
- Breakfast available from 5 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. on flights over 1,100 miles (roughly 3+ hour flights).
- Light meals available from 9:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. on flights over 1,100 miles (roughly 3+ hour flights).
You don’t pay for the pre-order meal when booking; instead, you pay with a credit card inflight.
INFLIGHT SERVICE
Thirty-five minutes after takeoff, the drinks cart rolled into the cabin, followed shortly by the food cart.
I was seated about midway down the cabin on their A321 aircraft, and the trolleys reached my row within 20 minutes.
When asked if I wanted to buy any food, I explained that I had pre-ordered.
The crew member informed me that she did not have a pre-order meal for me, but she quickly accommodated my request for the Zoes Kitchen Hummus Duo.
She took my credit card for payment and promptly brought me my meal.
A few minutes later, the drinks cart, operated by two crew members, came by to take orders. I ordered a complimentary tomato juice, and the flight attendant also handed me a packet of pretzels.
Here’s a look at the ingredient list for the Hummus Duo Box.
The hummus box came with fresh carrots and cucumber, and some pita bread. One part was drizzled with a flavorful pesto, while the other was topped with a Kalamata olive.
It was served chilled, which I appreciated, and it was a great light and fresh option to enjoy inflight.
At $9.99, I thought the price was a little high, but considering the complexities of airline catering, it’s understandable.
About an hour before landing, the friendly crew passed through the cabin once more to offer additional snacks and drinks.
Here’s a look at the November 2019 menu. I believe AA changes this quite regularly.
Overall, I enjoyed my first experience with AA. The pre-order meal process was simple and easy to use, even though the crew did not receive my order.
I suspect this happened because I changed my order several times before the flight, possibly creating a glitch in the system.
Nonetheless, I look forward to another trip with AA in the future.
